We get this question all the time:

Can I store pallets outside?

It’s a great question – and we’ve got the answers to help decide what works best for your warehouse.

Where To Store Those Pallets!

Storing empty pallets inside your warehouse, where space is precious, presents challenges.

Maybe you’re increasing inventory levels for your finished goods to get ready for your (hopefully) busy season?

Maybe you’re just running out of room in general?

If your storage equipment isn’t being used and is taking up limited space, you may be considering storing it outside, subjecting it to the elements.

But is this the right thing to do?

Great Question! The answer is not as straightforward as you might think –  but we can break down your decision points to help you find what works best for your situation.

The Greatest Advice For Storing Pallets Outside

First, let me share one of the best pieces of advice when you have no option but to store pallets outside – because sometimes you don’t have a choice!

FIFO – First In, First Out

Use a FIFO (First In First Out) material flow by moving pallets that have been outdoors for the longest period of time indoors and into your indoor production environment.

This way pallets that have been outdoors the longest get a break at the earliest opportunity.

Should You Store Pallets Outside?

Considerations

There are many decision points involved and factor to consider when assessing if storing pallets outdoors is a good solution for your material handling operation.

We’re going to focus on two important factors:

* Pallet Material
* Security

Pallet Material

A pallet’s material may make it more or less suited for outdoor storage. We’ll focus on wood pallets vs plastic pallets.

Storing Wood Pallets Outside

Storing wood pallets outside presents a unique set of challenges, especially in moist and rainy climates. Moisture can cause pallet boards to swell (displacing nails) and rot prematurely.

Rotten pallets can fail unexpectedly and may result in injuries, inventory damage, and operational inefficiency.

Using tarps to protect wood pallets from rain can help. However, care must be taken not to limit airflow that can otherwise trap moisture and prevent it from being carrier away from stored pallets.

If storing wood pallets outside is your only option, make sure to follow these simple tips:

* Elevate Wood Pallets from the ground to reduce moisture from wet surfaces
* Allow Proper Airflow by stacking pallets with sufficient space surrounding them
* Use a tarp to divert rain from contact with the wood pallets (but without limiting airflow)

Storing Plastic Pallets Outside – Works Pretty Well!

Generally speaking, plastic pallets are able to withstand much more exposure to the elements than wood pallets.

Over time, the sun’s rays can weaken the plastic material, but this is a slow process that can be drastically reduced with tarps and other placement strategies that limit pallet exposure to direct sunlight.

So generally speaking, plastic pallets are particularly well-suited for outdoor storage.

But there’s a catch – make sure the pallets are not made of ACM material. Pallets made from ACM material will lose some integrity when wet.

Security

Another important factor to consider when storing pallets outdoors is security. Like any asset, pallets can walk away on their own. So if you have to store them outside, it is ideal to do so in a fenced or gated area.

Let me know how I can help!

* What’s the greatest challenge you face in your warehouse?

* We’re here to help meet unique challenges in your warehouse!

Share your Comments!

We’d love to hear from you – please let us know what other tricks you’ve used to save on freight – and check our our article on other ways to save money on pallet shipping charges.

Need Help Selecting A Pallet?

Our Plastic Pallet Experts are happy to help you find the right plastic Plastic Pallet and send you a quote that includes shipping costs.

Please contact us to find the perfect pallet at the best price.

Heat Treated Pallets (HT Pallets)

Today we’re going to talk about heat treated pallets, find out what makes them special and beneficial, and discuss an alternative to heat treated pallets.

Pallet Treatments

Some pallets are untreated. These untreated pallets are known as “national pallets”, because they lack ISPM pallet certification and are therefore not used for international trade and foreign travel.

Pallet Treatments – For Safety

Wood pallets are treated to reduce the spread of pests and inhibit the growth of fungi and other organic matter to increase consumer safety and the stability of regional ecosystems.

There are many wood pallet treatment processes for making pallets safe for use:

• Chemical Pallet Treatments
• Fungicide Pallet Treatments
• Pressure Treatments
• Heat Treatments

No Bark!

At the very least, treated pallets must be debarked prior to their treatments. Because bark can harbor pests and their eggs, it has to go!

Heat Treated Pallets

Heat Treated or FT Pallets are subjected to a very specific heat treatment.

The heat treatment kills bugs and their eggs and reduces the wood’s moisture level.

Reduced moisture means that the pallet loses weight during the heating process as well!

HT Pallet Recipe: Bake Wood Core at 56°C (134.6°F) for 30 Minutes

Just what exactly has to happen for a wood pallet meet the heat treating requirements to meet ISPM15 requirements?

The core temperature of any wood pallet greater than 6MM in thickness must be raised to 56°C (Celsius) for no fewer than 30 continues minutes. Reaching the 56°C wood core temperature for half an hour destroys pests, their eggs, and organic plant life that may contaminate the payload or impact other ecosystems adversely.

Wait, what are we here in the US? We’re Fahrenheit.

So 56°C is 134.6°F  – which is roughly equivalent of the hottest recorded temperature in the USA:

134°F at Furnace Creek, Death Valley, CA (July 10, 1913)

What Does A Pallet Heater Look Like?

Pallet Heater, Pallet Kiln, whatever you call them, they have one essential purpose: to heat the pallets to 56°C and keep it there for 30 minutes.

Here’s one of the little devils now:

Pallet Heater System Components:

* Fuel Source (natural gas or propane) – The fuel used for heating, sometimes kept in separate tanks
* Power Supply – Powers the heating and air handling devices
* Heating Unit – Creates heat from burned fuel for the heated air used to dry the pallets
* Air Handler – Forces the heated air into the heating chamber

Some pallet heating systems combine the heater and air-handler into an integrated unit, heating the air and forcing it into the heating chamber.

ISPM 15 Stamps – What do they look like?

The IPPC stamps used to indicate that a pallet manufacturer has met ISPM 15 standards looks something like this:

And as you might have already guessed (or already know) –
HT stands for Heat Treated.

Here’s another example of an ISPM 15 style stamp.

The Downside To HT Pallets

Well, there aren’t any problems to using HT Pallets specifically; they’re better than using MB Wood Pallets (pallets treated with the now banned MB – methyl bromide).

The problem with MT Pallets is that they are wood pallets and are not the first choice for efficient and cost-effective material handling due to the normal wood pallet disadvantages:

* Added weight of wood causes higher transportation costs
* Lack of uniformity causes interruptions and failure during transport and storage
* Splinters can risk health of all hands in the supply chain, and can cause contamination, exposure to blood borne pathogens, and payload damage.
* High cost of replacement over the long term due to lower service life compared to plastic pallet alternatives.

The Wood Pallet Alternative Is A Plastic Pallet Advantage

Are you ready for a pallet that will last longer, weighs less, performs better, causes less downtime, doesn’t need to be treated, can comply with FDA regulations, and will cost you less to use in the long haul?

Plastic Pallets are the answer – and our pallet experts can help you find the perfect fit to your needs.

Share your Comments!

We’d love to hear from you – please let us know what other tricks you’ve used to save on freight – and check our our article on how FDA Pallets can help food and pharma companies work better!

Plastic and Wood Pallets can live together

For years, wood pallets dominated shipping. In fact, over 90% of all shipping is still done on plastic pallets. Even though wood is still controlling the pallet market, plastic pallet use is certainly on the rise. And for some companies, plastic pallets are a more reliable and durable option.

Wood Pallets

Since before World War II, wood pallets have dominated the material handling market.

Wood pallets have been in use for longer than plastic pallets and are more efficient for some companies. Wood pallets are cheap and strong, which allows them to carry heavier products.

Companies who don’t ship as frequently benefit more from using wood pallets versus plastic pallets, just from a price standpoint. Another benefit of wood is that it’s a natural resource, making it biodegradable and easy to recycle.

Wood pallets have their disadvantages, however. The main ones are that they can become overrun with bacteria and are difficult to clean. Another important factor to discuss when comparing wood pallets versus plastic pallets is how they are made.

How Wood Pallets & Plastic Pallets Are Made

Wood block pallets have multiple pieces that need to be screwed or nailed together while plastic is constructed in one solid piece. These create advantages and disadvantages for both. This allows wood pallets to be repaired easier,  but creates unsafe surfaces that can have splinters or nails sticking out which can harm workers and disrupt flow of materials.

A plastic pallet on the other hand won’t break as easily due to its design and construction, resulting in a much longer life expectancy. However, once a plastic pallet is damaged, it’s difficult to repair. Along with that the surface does not have nails or splinters, making it a much safer for handlers.

Below is a full list of advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages Of Wood Pallets

* Cheap
* Handles heavy shipments
* Easy to repair
* Recyclable and biodegradable
* The product will not shift as much

Disadvantages Of Wood Pallets

* Difficult to clean
* Can host bacteria
* Not always safe to handle
* Not as durable as plastic

 

Plastic Pallets

Even though most shippers use wood pallets versus plastic pallets, plastic adoption is on the rise. This is especially true for companies who ship in higher quantities and often due to how long it lasts. Along with that, plastic pallets offer advantages to industries where sanitation is key, like fresh and frozen foods, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals to name a few.

It’s also becoming more and more apparent that even though the upfront cost of plastic pallets might be more than wood pallets, the durability of plastic provides a better ROI!

Understanding Industrial Needs

While plastic is ideal for industries where the hygiene of products is key, it isn’t practical for some others. Wood pallets versus plastic pallets are more useful and cost efficient in industries like manufacturing because they are cheap and able to handle heavier shipments compared to plastic. Along with that, these industries don’t face the challenges of following strict regulations on product sanitation.

Here are some other advantages and disadvantages.

Plastic Pallet Advantages

* Durable and long lasting
* Weighs less which reduces shipping costs
* Safe to handle
* Easy to clean
* Recyclable

Plastic Pallet Disadvantages

* Costs more upfront
* Cannot handle very heavy shipments
* Not biodegradable

Weighing the two

There are pros and cons to using both pallets. Without identifying your needs prior to purchase, there is no clear cut option. Deciding on wood or plastic is going to come down to factors regarding what industry the company is in, how much they’re shipping, where they’re shipping,  and the costs.

As a result, plastic pallets and wood pallets continue to thrive alongside each other in the marketplace.

Share your comments!

Do you think there are other advantages to using wood pallets over plastic or vice versa? Please share!

Need Help Selecting A Pallet I Can Help?

* What’s the greatest challenge you face in your warehouse?
* We’re here to help meet unique challenges in your warehouse!

Our Plastic Pallet Experts are happy to help you find the right plastic Plastic Pallet and send you a quote that includes shipping costs.

Please contact us to find the perfect pallet at the best price.

You Can’t Ship Without Pallets

Pallets are one of the most important material handling tools of the food and agricultural industries.

Whether plastic or wood, pallets are essential for transporting, storing, and protecting goods throughout the supply chain. Different types of pallets offer specific benefits others can’t compete with – so choosing the correct pallet ultimately depends on the products or payload you are shipping and the unique characteristics of you industry or application.

Some industries maintain strict handling standards to meet regulations designed to protect consumers. For example, the Food and Agricultural industries demand for proper sanitation has led to strict regulations for shipping food products to reduce the likelihood of contamination.

Outbreaks of foodborne illnesses linked to contaminated wood pallets provided additional need for improved practices – and led to additional regulation.

 

Food And Agricultural Industries

 

Food and Agricultural industry products are a part of all of our lives and play an important role in maintaining public health. The need for sanitation and safety is even greater as a result. Many businesses in this industry are switching to plastic pallets from wood in order to reduce the chance of contamination.

Plastic pallets protect finished goods and organic materials used to produce them from contamination and spoilage from pests.

Some examples of companies in the Food and Agricultural Industry are:

* Breweries & Wineries
* Fruit & Vegetable Farms
* Grocery Stores
* Livestock Farms
* Pharmaceutical Companies
* Dairies
* Cheesemakers
* Slaughterhouses
* Restaurants
* Commercial Kitchens
* Granaries
* Tree & Plant Nurseries

Contamination Concerns in the Food and Agricultural Industry

 

Recently, we have seen many foodborne illness outbreaks due to these contaminations. Some of the outbreaks have caused human fatalities.

* Since 2016, there have been 3 instances of hepatitis A outbreaks linked to frozen tuna and strawberries along with raw scallops.

* In 2015, we saw a listeria outbreak in the ice cream company Blue Bell that unfortunately took some lives.

Wood Pallets used in the Food and Agricultural Industry

 

Wooden pallets are notorious for harboring pathogens which can create these illnesses and are unsafe for food handling. Wood pallets have splinters and nails which puncture and injure.

In order to use these wood pallets, the pallets need to comply with the ISPM-15 regulations that include processes that include heat treatment or fumigation.

Unfortunately, treatments make wood susceptible to mold and toxins. In fact, many recent healthcare recalls are due to the toxic chemicals used to treat wooden pallets. The Blue Bell listeria outbreak is linked unsanitary wood pallets.

Not surprisingly, the problems with the wood pallets have given rise to companies using plastic pallets in the food and agricultural industry.

Plastic Pallets in the Food and Agricultural Industry

 

The solution to cutting down contamination problems in the food and agricultural industry is by using plastic pallets. Since the demand for hygiene in the industry is so high, it only makes sense to use pallets that provide unbeatable resistance to contamination and are easy to sanitize.

Using plastic pallets relieves the stress caused by industry regulations and less consistent means of moving goods. What do we mean by this?

Consider The Following: Our plastic pallet customers don’t worry about ISPM-15 certifications.

Using plastic pallets allows for automatic exemptions from export pallet regulations that are enforced by the USDA on all wooden pallets. Besides the USDA’s regulations,  the FDA just finalized its ruling on the transportation of Human and Animal food.

Food Safety Modernization Act

 

The FDA just finalized the FSMA on the sanitary transportation of human and animal foods. This is in effort to protect foods coming from farms to being consumed during transit. The goal of the rule is to prevent practices during transportation that create risks to the safety of the food.

Common practices include, failure to properly refrigerate food, inadequate cleaning of vehicles between loads and failure to properly protect food. Requirements have been created for carriers by motor or rail vehicles, loaders, shippers and receivers involved to ensure the safety of the foods during transportation. There are four main key requirements to the Act.

Vehicles and Transportation

The rule requires all vehicles and transportation equipment to not cause the food it transports to become contaminated. All vehicles and equipment used in transportation need to be adequately cleanable for their intended use.

Transportation Operations

Transportation operations are measurements such as adequate temperature controls, preventing of ready to eat food from touching raw food so it doesn’t get contaminated, protecting food from nonfood items and finally keeping food away from cross contact, like that of a food allergen.

Training

There now will be required training of all personnel in sanitary transportation practices as well as documenting the training. The carriers who are covered by the new rules are responsible for providing the food safety training to the personnel.

Records

Records of agreements, training and written procedures are now required.

FDA Approved Pallets

 

The ultimate plastic pallet for handling food and agricultural products are products that meet FDA regulations.

FDA Product are made from 100% virgin plastic resins for the ultimate in safe handling and FDA compliance.

One Way Solutions offers FDA approved plastic pallets that can be used for storing food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals. Our FDA pallets come in rackable and stackable options while also meeting FDA fire retardant requirements. These FDA pallets are available in blue, black, yellow, green, grey, red and beige.

Already Using Plastic Pallets?

 

How have you overcome your warehousing and transportation challenges using food and agricultural pallets?

Please let us know in the comments below.

Need Help Selecting A Pallet?

 

Our Plastic Pallet Experts are happy to help you find the right plastic Plastic Pallet and send you a quote that includes shipping costs.

Please contact us to find the perfect pallet at the best price.

Choosing the best pallet for your warehouse is an important decision.

Will Wood, Metal or Plastic Pallets be right for you? We can help.

Take our quick Pallet Quiz and for our recommendation on the best pallet for your needs.

Can’t decide on Wood, Metal or Plastic Pallets – We Can Help!

Please contact us to see if Wood, Metal or Plastic Pallets are right for your application.

How long do plastic pallets last?

That’s the $64,000 question in our industry. Predicting a plastic pallet’s lifespan is both simple and impossible to determine.

What Is the lifespan of a plastic Pallet?

The Simple Answer

Plastic Pallets last forever!

Disclaimer: The claim that plastic pallets last forever assumes the following

• the pallet is not stored in the sunlight
• the pallet is not lost or intentionally damaged
• the pallet is always loaded properly within specifications
• the pallet is always handled perfectly

The Impossible Answer

A Plastic Pallet’s Lifespan? It depends!

Plastic Pallets last forever if… there are a lot of “ifs”.

• Pallet lifespan depends on the users application and handling practices:
• It’s also important to make sure the pallet being used is appropriate for the application.
• Often times, the cheapest pallet can become the most expensive, hiding the true expense of using a pallet that is not up to the task. After all, you must you consider product damage/loss due to overloading or improper use.

Reality Check

Neither answer is really helpful in the real world of material handling.

However, we do know that when the right pallet is selected for an application and it’s handled appropriately, it will outlast a wood pallet many times over.

At One Way Solutions, we’ve seen pallets in active use that were produced more than a decade ago.

The Bottom Line Pro Tip

Treat your plastic pallets well and they will return the favor- they’ll last longer and you’ll save money by drastically reducing the frequency of pallet replacement.

What do you think?

We value your option and pallet expertise!

• How long have your pallets lasted?
• What handling tricks have increased pallet lifespan?

Please leave your comments below and contact us for assistance on finding the perfect plastic pallet for the right price.

What’s our Cheapest Plastic Pallet?

To be honest, that’s a tough question. But I understand why you’re asking!

But first, a bit of pallet advice:

The cheapest plastic pallet isn’t necessarily the best plastic pallet for your application!

Considering that approximately 100 people per year die from forklift/pallet injuries, making sure that the pallet we sell is sufficient for it’s application is something we take seriously.

In the past 15 years, there have been dozens of customers that have not taken our pallet advice, only to regret it later. Fortunately, these cases resulted in an exchange for a more durable pallet and were not the result of an injury.

Just Answer The Question!

If we put aside the issue of application and look purely at price, we have several plastic pallets that match the ‘up front’ pricing of wood pallets. I say ‘up front’ because plastic pallets also have less tangible cost savings.

What are the hidden plastic pallet savings?

• freight cost savings
• lower frequency of replacement
• potentially lower insurance premiums
• less operations down time due to injury (due to nails and splinters commonly caused by wood pallets)
• less product damage (again, no nails / splinters)
• reduced risk of product and contamination (vital for food and pharmaceuticals)

Lower Freight Costs

Because plastic pallets often weigh less than wood pallets, it costs less money to ship them to your warehouse and to your customers.

Lower Frequency Of Replacement

Plastic pallet durability is excellent, often outlasting wood pallets. The longer plastic pallet lifespan means you will replace them less frequently- and buying less often saves you money!

OK! But what are your cheapest plastic pallets?

All of our pallets are priced competitively, but I’d like to mention one pallet that stands out in our pallet catalog.

Meet the NL7, our cheapest plastic pallet!

Our least expensive pallet is the # PP-O-40-N7 40×48 Nestable Open Deck Light Duty Plastic Pallet. We offer higher quantities of the NL7 for less $8 per unit, and it weighs less than 13 lbs.

Pro Tip: less weight means less pallet resin material, that’s less cost for our customers!

One Way Solutions designed the NL7 plastic pallet to have the lowest possible weight with a high load capacity sufficient for many applications and widespread use. It’s weight to capacity ratio is among the highest in our product offering.

Right Pallet, Right Price, Right Time, Right Way!

At One Way Solutions, we strive to find cost savings at every opportunity so that we can pass these savings onto our customers. Combined with unparalleled service, we continue to build repeat business as loyal customers return for their plastic pallet needs.

Our very first customer in 2003 is still a current customer today.

We Can Help!

Please contact us for pricing or info on any of our plastic pallets, including our cheapest one.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Wooden pallets are great for a lot of things.

For shipping? Eh, maybe. Not as good as plastic pallets, and not as durable, but in a pinch they might work.

For making furniture? Well, sorry plastic pallets, but your wooden brothers have you beat there.

Case in point, now you can get designer furniture made from recycled wooden pallets. And here’s the craziest part: It looks pretty good.

Check it out.

Part of the appeal is that this furniture is really just made from the pallet wood, and doesn’t really try to keep the structure of the pallet intact.

But that’s a small technicality, and doesn’t detract from the fact that this is still some pretty slick furniture that’s made from recycled wood.

It’s just a shame that plastic pallets are so good at their intended function.

The first ever Pallet Fest took place in Denver over the weekend, showing many Denverites (Denvernians? Denvertians?) the fun and excitement of upcycling.

What is upcycling, you ask?

Upcycling the “practice of turning old products into a new item when its usable life comes to an end,” according to Pallet Enterprise since upcycling has fast become synonymous with wooden pallets.

This notion is only reinforced with Pallet Fest. Continue reading →

This certainly isn’t the first time that we’ve shared a neat pallet creation, but it’s definitely the first time that we’ve shared something this intricate.

When you think of things that you can make out of pallets what do you think of? Maybe a chair, or a small house, or some kind of sculpture. You know, all the stuff you see on Pinterest.

Will Matthysen of Warrandyte, Victoria, Australia thinks of clocks.

And not just a clock. A fully functional clock.

The project was a part of an annual event known as the Create From A Crate Competition, and yes, it was enough to earn the Australian clock maker the grand prize.

Check out the above video to see the process.

So I guess we’ve found another project that wooden pallets are great for. For all of your warehouse needs, there are plastic pallets from One Way Solutions.